Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons)
The Abyss is the Outer Plane representing the concept of chaotic evil, known fully as the Infinite Layers of the Abyss.
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Description
Originally reputed to consist of 666 layers, each encompassing its own brand of hideous evil, it has since been shown to hold many more than that, over 679 (the number catalogued by the Fraternity of Order of Sigil). Some even propose that the plane holds an infinite variety of evil layers (hence its common name). The Abyss is the realm of the demons, primarily the group known as tanar'ri, which have defeated and suppressed other groups such as the cataboligne demons. Many layers of the Abyss are ruled by particularly powerful demons known as abyssal lords, while others are the domains of dark gods.
Named and Numbered Layers of the Abyss
- 1st: The Plain of Infinite Portals, which links to other layers.
- 2nd: "Driller's Hives," where hives of abyssal insects war.
- 3rd: The Forgotten Land, which steals its visitors' memories.
- 4th: The Grand Abyss, which lent its name to the plane; a massive chasm mined by the tanar'ri.
- 5th: Wormblood, which infects its visitors with mummy rot.
- 6th: The Realm of a Million Eyes, domain of the Great Mother (chief goddess of the Beholders).
- 7th: The Phantom Plane, isolated realm of the abyssal lord Sess'innek.
- 8th: "Skin-shedder," which turns its visitors chaotic evil.
- 9th: Burningwater, a layer of acid seas.
- 10th: "That Hellhole," where starving natives attack and devour any visitors.
- 11th: "Molrat," a dark layer of light-hating hunter tanar'ri.
- 12th: Twelvetrees, site of the murder of twelve devas] to power tanar'ri engines of war.
- 13th: Blood Tor, home of the evil goddesses Beshaba and Umberlee.
- 23rd: The Iron Wastes, realm of the abyssal lord Kostchtchie.
- 27th: Malignebula, realm of the abyssal lord Lissa'aere.
- 45th-47th: Azzagrat, three layers held by the abyssal lord Graz'zt.
- 57th: Torturous Truth, home of the abyssal lord Alvarez.
- 66th: The Demonweb Pits, home of the drow goddess Lolth.
- 67th: The Heaving Hills, an earthquake-ridden layer.
- 69th: The Crushing Plain, a layer so crowded that one must crawl atop the natives to avoid suffocating.
- 70th: The Ice Floe, where deadly waters rush past beneath a dangerously thin layer of ice.
- 71st: Spirac, hunting grounds of the tanar'ri.
- 72nd: Darklight, where good beings glow like the sun and evil beings are shrouded in shadows.
- 73rd: The Wells of Darkness, where failed tanar'ri leaders are imprisoned.
- 74th: Smaragd, a realm shared by the yuan-ti god Merrshaulk and the bullywug god Ramenos.
- 88th: Gaping Maw, the watery realm of the abyssal lord Demogorgon#dnd.
- 113th: Thanatos, realm of the abyssal lord Orcus.
- 128th: The Slugbed, realm of the abyssal lord Lupercio.
- 142nd: Lifebane, the realm of Chemosh, god of the undead.
- 176th: Hollow's Heart, the newest domain of the abyssal lord Fraz Urblu.
- 181st: The Rotting Plain, home of the troglodyte god Laogzed.
- 193rd: Vulgarea, realm of the werefox goddess Eshebala.
- 222nd: The Slime Pits, ooze and mold-infested realm of the abyssal lords Juiblex and Zuggtmoy.
- 223rd: Offalmound, former realm of the dead god of corruption Moander.
- 241st: Palpitatia, a realm ruled by the bugbear gods Grankhul and Skiggaret.
- 248th: The Hidden Layer, realm of the abyssal lord Eltab.
- 274th: Durao, a frequent embarkation point for troops entering the Blood War.
- 297th: The Sighing Cliffs, realm of the abyssal lady Lynkhab.
- 303rd: Sulfanorum, a smoky layer where tanar'ri go to relax.
- 348th: The Fortress of Indifference, a single 200-foot-tall tower of black iron gridwork.
- 377th: The Plains of Gallenshu, home of the Armanite.
- 399th: The Worm Realm, home of the evil gnome god Urdlen.
- 400th: Woeful Escarand, site of the Mountains of Woe where the nalfeshnee judge chaotic evil petitioners and decide their role in the Abyss.
- 403rd: The Rainless Waste, site of the city of Mal Arundak.
- 422nd: The Seeping Woods, realm of the abyssal lord Yeenoghu.
- 487th: Realm of the vampire god Kanchelsis, site of his twin homes (the Lair of the Beast and the Mansion of the Rake).
- 489th: The Noisome Vale, former domain of the balor Tarnhem.
- 499th: Carroristo, site of a major Blood War skirmish.
- 503rd: Torremor, realm of the abyssal lord Pazrael.
- 507th: Occipitus, a layer infused with the essence of Mount Celestia.
- 524th: Site of Shatterstone, the realm of the ogre power Vaprak.
- 531st: Vudra, poisonous realm of the Marilith.
- 566th: Soulfreeze, a cold layer linked to the Paraelemental Plane of Ice.
- 586th: The Prison of the Mad God, jail-realm of the derro god Diinkarazan.
- 600th: The Endless Maze, labyrinthine realm of the abyssal lord Baphomet.
- 601st: Conflagratum, home of the abyssal lord Alzrius.
- 643rd: The Caverns of the Skull, realm of the Vedic goddess Kali.
Gord the Rogue
The Abyss's layers were configured differently, with many sets of layers ruled by individual abyssal lords, particularly a huge territory (over 100 layers) controlled by Graz'zt.
D20 (Green Ronin)
The Abyss was once ruled by the qlippoth, a race of primal demons which were ousted due to attacks from the tanar'ri and the eladrin.
Comments
There are numerous other layers which have been identified over the years (as well as a huge number of third-party and unofficial layers).
See also
- Abat-Dolor
- Abraxas
- Abyssal Eviscerator
- Abyssian Ocean
- Ahrimanes
- Anarazel
- Ansitif
- Areex
- Aseroth
- Astaroth
- Azazel
- Belistor
- Broken Scale
- Dagon
- Eblitis
- Eldanoth
- Erishkigal
- Feng-Tu
- Fortress of Indifference
- Garyx
- Glacial Layer
- Illssender
- Ityak-Ortheel
- Iyondagur
- Jahklout
- King of Ghouls
- Lair of Semi-Demons
- Layer of Delusion
- Layer of Evil Incarnate
- Layer of Rock
- Layer of Space
- Lolth's Web
- Maelstrom
- Mastiphal
- Mezzafgraduun
- Nina
- Nocticula
- Obox-ob
- Ojukalazogadit
- Orlythys
- Rift of Corrosion
- Rozvankee the Strategist
- Shaddonon
- Siragle
- Socothbenoth
- Steaming Fen
- Turglas
- Zzyczesiya
